Calvin Rodriguez, 22, crashed a stolen car after hitting the creature when trying to get away from officers in Port St Lucie, Florida.

Detective Keith Boham was surprised by the way the pursuit ended but welcomed the intervention from the animal.

The whereabouts of the alligator (not pictured) was unknown (Picture: EPA)

‘It’s pretty unimaginable that police officers would be at that point in time looking for these suspects and that an alligator unfortunately just happens to cross the road and assist us in catching these criminals,’ he told WPTV.

Rodriguez, who admitted taking cars, had reportedly stolen five vehicles before being apprehended for the theft of the Honda Civic.